Nicky Shorey swept home a delightful free-kick as Reading ended their sorry sequence of three successive 3-0 defeats with a battling point at the Bescot Stadium.

Jorge Leitao nodded home from a corner routine to earn Walsall a deserved lead before half-time but Shorey's first goal of the season ensured Reading's stuttering promotion push did not slip any further.

Colin Lee's side weathered Reading's brisk opening spell before taking the lead on the half-hour, when Portuguese striker Leitao rose unmarked to convert Simon Osborn's corner.

Lee chose to leave Paul Merson on the bench again rather than change the side which won at Cardiff on Boxing Day.

Lloyd Owusu made his first start for Reading following his loan move from Sheffield Wednesday and the striker began brightly by drilling a vicious shot narrowly over the crossbar from distance.

Owusu was partnered by Nicky Forster in attack as boss Steve Coppell scrapped the five-man midfield he had favoured since replacing Alan Pardew.

Despite all their neat passing however, the visitors failed to create enough clear-cut chances.

Coppell was forced into a change when Andy Hughes had to be replaced by Scott Murray, and things almost got dramatically worse for Reading before the break when Leitao was again on target with a header which Marcus Hahnemann managed to beat away.

Reading began the second half on the front foot and Murray's point-blank header drew a superb save out of Walker from Shorey's corner.

Walker was again called into action after Forster turned James Harper's cross goalwards but the Saddlers goalkeeper was equal to the task.

Coppell introduced Ivar Ingimarsson midway through the second half and the change paid handsome dividend after 72 minutes.

An electric run from Murray was crudely ended by Ian Roper five yards outside the area, and after the defender was cautioned, Shorey ensured he was punished even further by curling his free-kick into the top corner.

Forster looked to have secured all three points 10 minutes from the end after beating Walker with a crisp finish, but the referee pulled play back for offside.

Teams

Walsall Walker, Bazeley, Ritchie, Roper, Aranalde, Samways (Merson 83), Emblen, Osborn (Lawrence 81), Wrack, Birch, Leitao.

Subs Not Used: Allaway, Hay, Vincent.

Booked: Roper.

Goals: Leitao 30.

Reading Hahnemann, Murty, Williams, Brown, Shorey, Hughes (Murray 31), Sidwell, Newman (Ingimarsson 68), Harper, Owusu, Forster.

Subs Not Used: Watson, Tyson, Young.

Goals: Shorey 72.

Att: 8,089

Ref: A Bates (Staffordshire).